Last night’s Young Hollywood Awards ceremony at L.A.’s Club Nokia — airing May 26 on ION Television (9/8c) — featured not only youthful stars (including Oscar nominee Hailee Steinfeld and august Super 8 star Elle Fanning), but also their mentor figures, who presented the statuettes.

It’s a more poignant situation than you realize.

Jeff Bridges surprised Steinfeld with a touching introduction, and the legendary Francis Ford Coppola, who cast Fanning in his upcoming film Twixt Now and Sunrise, waxed poetic about the 13-year-old’s talent and grace, remembering to note, “She has remained a kid.” That sent Dakota’s little sister into an emotional tailspin, and after striding up to accept the Film Actress of the Year award from the Godfather director’s hands, she began to weep. “Thank you to Sofia [Coppola] and J.J. [Abrams] for giving me the opportunity to do all these really exciting and cool movies,” she said, referring to Somewhere and Super 8. “I’ll never forget the feelings that I had when I was asked to even go meet them, not to mention that I actually got to be in their films. Just thank you guys so much, Young Hollywood, and of course to Francis again for coming and doing this for me… it was really nice.”

Plenty of TVLine favorites made appearances too; Jesse Williams of Grey’s Anatomy won TV Actor of the Year, and a quite-blonde Ellen Pompeo delivered him the statuette. West Wing scribe Aaron Sorkin presented the Star of Tomorrow Award to Social Network‘s double-credited Armie Hammer, who director David Fincher called “Jughead” in an email Sorkin read aloud. In the elevator afterward, Hammer’s wife Elizabeth Chambers asked me what was in the mysterious Acai Grape sportsdrink I found in a backstage fridge. I said, “Crystals? Candy Land minerals? This might not be human food.” Armie chuckled hard. I slay the Winklevi!

The cast of Pretty Little Liars made the biggest splash in the TV categories, winning the Cast to Watch award (from presenter Katerina Graham) and inducing a cackling fugue state among the YHA’s tween-filled audience. “I love you!” hollered one balcony tween, interrupting Troian Bellisario at the microphone. Lucy Hale, Ashley Benson, and Shay Mitchell faithfully stood by and waved at hollerers. Aimee Teegarden also picked up a trophy for TV Actress of the Year for her work on Friday Night Lights, a show that all good people still miss.

Rounding out the TV presence, Aziz Ansari presented a comedian trophy to Chelsea Lately regular Dan Levy, and memorable 30 Rock guest-star Michael Sheen gifted Country Strong/Tron: Legacy star Garrett Hedlund with a Film Actor of the Year accolade. For photos of the rest of the YHA honorees, click on over to Movieline, where you can read me regularly.